FESTIVALS, HOLIDAYS AND OTHER ANNUAL EVENTS IN Mumbai

There are a number of festivals, holidays and other events celebrated in Mumbai each year.
The main ones are listed below.

January 1: New Year's Day (national holiday)

January 26: Republic Day (national holiday)

Each year, the founding of the Republic of India on this day in 1950 is marked with pomp and pageantry. Celebrations include official ceremonies, colourful military parades and general merry-making, including street theatre and fireworks.

January/February – Fifth day of the lunar month of Magh in the Hindu calendar : Vasant Panchami (celebrated nationwide)

This one-day Hindu festival celebrates the arrival of spring and also honours Saraswati, the goddess of learning. People dress in shades of yellow, echoing the golden mustard blossoms having begun to open in the fields. In and around Mumbai, the day is celebrated with kite flying, singing, dancing and feasting .

August 15: Independence Day (national holiday)

The anniversary of India's independence from British rule in 1947 is celebrated each year with flag raising and other patriotic ceremonies, military parades and cultural events.

August/September – Fourth to the fourteenth day of the bright half of Bhadrapad in the Hindu calendar : Ganesh Chaturthi (celebrated nationwide, but especially in Mumbai and its region)

Mumbai's most famous festival lasts for 10 or 11 days and honours Ganesh, the elephant-headed Hindu god of good fortune, who is the city's patron. Celebrations are particularly ecstatic on the last day, when huge processions, including many dancers and musicians, make their way to Chowpatty Beach carrying clay images and giant statues of the god, which they submerge in the sea.

October 2: Mahatma Gandhi's Birthday (national holiday)

Commemorated throughout the country, this holiday celebrates the anniversary of Gandhi's birth on this day in 1869. All schools and stores are closed. Numerous religious ceremonies are held to remember independent India's founding father.

October/November – Fifteenth day of the lunar month of Kartik in the Hindu calendar : Diwali (celebrated nationwide)

Oil lamps, lanterns and candles illuminate Mumbai and all of India during this five-day festival of lights. According to tradition, Diwali celebrates the god Rama's return from 14 years of exile in the forest, when citizens lit his way with oil lamps, after his victory over the demon Ravana, as told in the Hindu epic Ramayana. Festivities also include firecrackers and fireworks, feasting with loved ones, and exchanges of sweets and gifts.

December 25: Christmas (national holiday)

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CLIMATE AND WEATHER IN Mumbai

Mumbai has a tropical climate, with two main seasons. The dry season, which extends from November to February, sees the lowest temperatures of the year, especially towards the end, but is still quite warm. The rainy season, known as the monsoon, runs from March to October and brings not only torrential rains but extreme heat as well. The period from April to June is uncomfortably hot and humid. There are usually a few days with strong winds in both December and July.

Month

Min. Average Temperature (°C/F°)

Max. Average Temperature (°C/F°)

Average Rains (MM)

Best Time to Travel

January

19/66

30/86

0/0.0

Not the best period to go

February

20/68

30/86

0/0.0

Not the best period to go

March

23/73

31/88

0/0.0

Not the best period to go

April

25/77

32/81

2/0.1

Good period to go

May

27/81

33/91

12/0.5

Good period to go

June

26/79

32/90

592/23.3

Not the best period to go

July

25/77

30/86

682/26.9

Not the best period to go

August

24/75

32/90

487/19.2

Not the best period to go

September

25/77

30/86

307/12.1

Not the best period to go

October

25/77

32/90

61/2.4

Good period to go

November

23/73

33/91

23/0.9

Good period to go

December

21/70

31/88

2/0.1

Good period to go

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Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport is located about 30 kilometres (19 miles) north of the city centre.

Two terminaux :

Terminal 1

Terminal 2 (Air France)

Getting from the airport to Mumbai and back

By car

Accessible via the Western Express Highway (NH-8).

Parking facilities are available in both terminals, with rates ranging from INR 110 for up to 30 minutes to INR 1,100 for 8–24 hours.

Several car rental companies have counters in the domestic terminal (halls 1A and 1B) and in the international terminal. An international driver's licence is required to rent a vehicle.

By taxi

Taxis are available at the ranks outside the arrivals halls at both terminals. Apart from rental cars, taxis are the only direct means of transport connecting the airport with central Mumbai. The trips takes about 1 hour and costs around INR 400.

By bus

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) operates express buses which make stops at the airport. Bus 312 connects the domestic terminal with Ville Parle East and Andheri East stations on Mumbai's commuter rail network. At the international terminal, bus 321 connects with Ville Parle East and bus 308 connects with Andheri East. The travel time to either station is about 30 minutes and the fare is INR 140 each way.

Services : shops, bars and restaurants, Internet access (Wi-Fi) available in the airport.

GETTING AROUND Mumbai

Mumbai is a bustling and massive metropolis. Getting around the city can be incredibly difficult. However, as the main sights are concentrated in the central area, it is always possible, and in fact highly recommended, to visit the city on foot!

By rail

Commonly referred to as “local trains”, Mumbai's urban and suburban rail network has three lines – Western, Central and Harbour – linking the city's outer districts with central Mumbai. Trains are often overcrowded, especially during rush hours. Single tickets cost between INR 50 and INR 200.

By bus

Mumbai has many bus routes, using both single- and double-decker vehicles. But as the buses are very often crammed with passengers, this can be a rather uncomfortable means of transport in the hot climate of Mumbai. Fares start at about INR 50.

By chauffeured car

Chauffeured vehicles are certainly the most convenient option for getting around Mumbai, but also the most expensive. Hiring a chauffeur for a week costs about INR 18,000. Added to this is the rental cost for the car and fuel. Daily car rental fees are generally in the range of INR 1,000 to INR 2,000.

By taxi

Metered taxis are plentiful in Mumbai. There are two types of cabs, easily identified by their colour: blue taxis are air-conditioned, whereas black ones are not. Most trips within the centre of the city cost between INR 1,500 and INR 2,000. Fares for black taxis are approximately 40 percent lower than those for blue taxis.

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Visitor information

Upon your arrival in Mumbai, you can get in touch with local tourism professionals for further information and to help organize your stay.

Currency and Exchange Rates

Medical information

See your doctor before you travel.

Vaccinations

There are no vaccination requirements for visitors to India. However, booster doses of the following vaccines are strongly recommended for anyone travelling to the Indian subcontinent: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, polio, typhoid, and hepatitis A and B. For longer stays, a rabies vaccination is also recommended.

For more information, contact Air France's international vaccination centre:

Tap water is not safe to drink in Mumbai. Drink only bottled water sold in sealed, tamper-proof containers or water boiled for 30 minutes and then filtered.

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Administrative formalities

As a French citizen, you must apply for a visa before travelling to India. Visa extensions are not possible once you have arrrived in the country, whether for tourism, studies or business. You should also note that, depending on the type of visa you require, the expiration date of your passport will need to be at least three to six months later than that of your visa.

To enjoy peace of mind during your stay in Mumbai and India, be sure to check with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country for the latest travel information and recommendations. Comprehensive information that may be helpful for international visitors is also provided on the India page of the U.S. State Department’s travel Website: view information for travellers to India

Good to know

Usually open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Government offices

Usually open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

230 V / 50 Hz

And what about tipping?
There are no hard-and-fast rules on tipping in India. Nevertheless, with the influx of tourists it has become increasingly common, especially in large cities like Mumbai. The expected tip is usually about 10 percent of the bill. Some Mumbai restaurants add a service charge to the bill. When this is the case, no additional tip is necessary.